The Prize Engine of 1872, 1873, 1874, and 1875, An Advertising Circular
What its interesting to note, is that while the circular states that it has been an prize winning engine for several years now, it does not name a specific award it has won. Rather stating "we have received the highest prizes wherever we have exhibited, not only in the United States but in Europe, in competition with the best builders." The company sold seven styles of the engine: plain, coupled, plain, cut-off, coupled cut-off, reversing for yachts and like uses, semi-portable, and hoisting. The circular itself is single fold, with a wonderfully detailed black and white illustration of the semi portable engine on the front. The inside page provides a brief description of the company and its engines, while the rest of the circular is taken up with testimonials from past customers. It is possible that this circular was created for the 1876 Centennial International Exposition in Philadelphia, as their is record of the company exhibiting there, however there is no reference to the exposition on the circular itself. The company itself was founded in 1870 by John F. Haskins, as the Haskins Pneumatic Alarm Company in Fitchburg, MA, and in 1872 changed its name to the Haskins Machine Company. In 1876 it again changed its name to Haskins Steam Engine Company, but unfortunately went out of business in the same year. The company's manufacturing facilities in were taken over by the company's former employees, Frederick Fosdick and Hale W. Page, who together started a company called the Fitchburg Steam Engine Company. This new company produced engines similar, if not identically to the Haskins Company, and their engines were used to supply power to the machinery in paper mills, textile factories, shoe factories and eventually generated electricity for hotels and libraries. The Fitchburg Steam Engine Company would fold in 192.
Fitchburg, MA: Haskins Steam Engine Co., 1876. Declaring itself as the 5th Annual Circular of its "Prize Engine", this adverting circular is for the Haskins Steam Engine Company's Engine and Boiler. 9. Single fold, circular with an engraving of the engine on the cover. The Haskins Engine and Boiler --Semi Portable. After a brief narrative describing the product the remaining 2 1/2 pages are testimonials from satisfied users of the engine organized by use, such as Shoe Trade, Printing Office, Store Elevator, Cider Mill, Grinder, Clothing Manufacturing and many other. Measures 11" x 8 1/2" (folded), General wear. Letter folds with minor separation.Price: $125.00
Item #25009731